I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I ended up in a shotgun marriage with the male lead.
Episode 1

A small general store in the village.
“Emilia, are you finished tidying up?”
“Cough, yes!”
A woman with brown hair poked her head out from the back of the storeroom.
“I’m almost done!”
“Then finish that up and head home for the day.”
Anderson said, glancing at the ledger.
“Really? Can I?”
Emilia brightened at the news—it was far earlier than her usual closing time.
“Of course. We hardly have any customers anyway. And…….”
The woman opened her mouth again, her expression turning slightly disapproving.
“Isn’t today the day they announce Cedric’s exam results?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Emilia nodded cheerfully.
At that, Anderson shook her head in exasperation.
“What on earth does that boy have that’s so special? All he does is cause you trouble.”
“Well, it’s not easy to pass an exam, is it?”
“That’s exactly why he should hurry up and pass, if only for your sake. How many years have you been supporting him now?”
At that, Emilia let out an awkward laugh.
“Anyway, if he fails again, just kick him to the curb and call it quits. Understood?”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t just think—act on it! Such a clever girl, yet you turn into a bear when it matters…….”
“All right then, let me turn my thoughts into action and head home?”
Before Anderson could lecture her further, Emilia quickly untied her apron.
“Sigh, fine. Off you go, then.”
Anderson waved her away dismissively.
Ring—
Upon leaving the general store, Emilia headed straight for the grocer’s.
But soon her expression darkened, and she stopped walking.
Though she’d been joking around with Anderson just moments ago, inwardly she was wound tight with tension.
‘What if he fails again?’
To be honest, she felt rather helpless.
Her fiancé, Cedric, had been taking the 5th Grade Administrator Exam for several years now.
Only those from families ranked Sub-Baron or higher could take it, and passing qualified one to work at the Imperial Palace, so the competition was fierce and the difficulty considerable.
Most applicants hired private tutors to prepare.
But Cedric came from a Fallen Noble family struggling with poverty, and he was the sole support of his widowed mother.
Because of this, both his education and financial support fell entirely to Emilia.
Of course, she was merely a commoner living in the countryside, but she was able to manage precisely because she possessed a Previous Life Memory.
‘Though I suppose the fact that this place is straight out of a novel is rather exceptional too.’
Yet living as she did in a small rural village, she had nothing to do with that story.
What mattered now was only whether Cedric passed.
‘Still, I should put extra effort into making dinner tonight.’
Emilia rubbed her stiff shoulders as she made her way toward the grocer’s.

* * *

“Mother, I’m home.”
“Come in.”
“Hasn’t Cedric arrived yet?”
Emilia glanced around as she stepped inside.
“If he were here, would I be standing around like this?”
Romanse replied irritably, not even looking at her.
“You’re right, sorry for asking such a silly question.”
Emilia apologized gently with a soft smile.
It seemed Romanse had been waiting anxiously since Cedric left.
If so, Cedric was likely at the village entrance right now.
Waiting for the mail carrier who came once a week.
And the mail he was to receive was the Notice of Results from the Imperial Palace.
“Emilia.”
“Yes?”
“Even if Cedric has failed, don’t you dare let it show on your face! Do you hear me?”
Romanse fixed her with a stern look and gave clear instructions.
“Of course. I understand perfectly.”
Emilia answered calmly and nodded.
In truth, it was always Romanse who struggled to maintain composure, but Emilia saw no point in saying so.
A moment later, urgent footsteps sounded, and the door burst open.
“Cedric?”
Emilia turned to look at him. But his expression seemed oddly dazed.
Looking down, she saw a crumpled Notice clutched in his hand.
‘Could it be……’
Emilia quickly concealed her disappointment.
Forcing a smile, she reached out toward his shoulder.
“It’s all right, Cedric. Even if it wasn’t this time, there’s always next year……”
But before her hand could touch his shoulder, Cedric suddenly jerked his head up.
“I did it……”
“Huh?”
“I did it! I, Cedric Romanse, have been appointed as a 5th Grade Administrator of the Imperial Palace!”
Romanse, who had been standing with anxious tension, opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
“Really? Is that truly real?”
“If you don’t believe me, check for yourself!”
He held out the Notice he’d been clutching, his voice trembling with excitement.
Romanse quickly took the paper and scanned it rapidly.
“Heavens above!”
Overcome with emotion, she pulled Cedric into an embrace.
“My son, my son! I knew you could do it! Well done, so well done! Now I can die without regrets!”
“Don’t say such things—now you can just live in peace!”
Cedric cried out, his face flushed with elation.
“Of course! A talent like me was always destined to be chosen! I was simply unlucky before!”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
As Romanse agreed with Cedric’s words,
Emilia quietly picked up the Notice that had fallen to the floor.
There it was, in black and white—Cedric’s name and the words of his passing.
‘He really did pass……’
Emilia’s legs gave way beneath her, and she sank to the ground.
It didn’t feel real.
At the same time, the years of sacrifice flashed before her like a panorama.
Working in the store from dawn until dusk to earn money, then spending every remaining hour for Cedric.
Not only preparing dinner for Romanse and Cedric each evening,
but also studying administrative and legal texts, even creating practice problems to support his studies.
All while drawing on her experience of passing the civil service exam in her previous life.
Anyone would have grown weary of such a life.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
Seeing Emilia’s shoulders shake slightly, Cedric tutted in reproach.
“Come now, it’s a good day. Why would you do that? How absurd.”
“I’m just happy.”
Emilia quickly wiped her tears away, embarrassed.
Then she turned toward the two people who would soon become her family and smiled brightly.
She had no idea what Cedric might have to say after his trip to the Capital for the appointment ceremony.

* * *

One month later.
Worry etched itself across Emilia’s face as she stared at the circled date on her calendar.
“Why hasn’t he returned yet?”
The day Cedric was supposed to come home had long since passed.
Even accounting for the appointment ceremony and related proceedings taking longer than expected, this was too late.
‘Could something have happened?’
The problem was that he’d sent no word at all.
Since she had no way of knowing where Cedric was staying, she couldn’t learn anything unless he reached out first.
After staring at the calendar for a long while, Emilia suddenly stood up.
‘I can’t just wait. I should ask Romanse about this.’

* * *

Knock, knock.
Emilia stood before the house, waiting for Romanse to answer the door.
But no response came, even after a long wait.
‘Is she not home?’
Peering toward the window, she saw a bright light spilling out.
And it seemed she could hear voices.
Just as she was about to knock again, the door suddenly swung open.
“……Cedric?”
Emilia’s voice came out uncertainly.
It was the very person she’d been waiting for all this time.
“Uh, er……?”
“What? If you came home, you should have told me right away. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?”
Seeing that Cedric had returned without letting her know, she felt a pang of hurt.
Still, she examined him, checking if he was injured anywhere.
‘At least he doesn’t seem to be hurt.’
If anything, his face had taken on a healthy glow—probably from the Capital’s water.
Emilia decided to take comfort in the fact that nothing seemed amiss with him.
Yet there was something odd about Cedric.
For just a moment his eyes darted about awkwardly before he gently withdrew his arm from her grasp.
‘What’s wrong?’
Then a woman’s head appeared from behind Cedric’s back.
Emilia’s gaze naturally shifted toward her.
“……Who is this?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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